Shanah Tovah! – This is a traditional Hebrew greeting for Rosh Hashanah, which means Happy New Year.”Pronounced as shah-NAH toe-VAH.

But why is Rosh Hashanah important for Jewish communities? And what do traditions, including special prayers, foods, gatherings and more, mean? Here’s what you need to know about Rosh Hashanah ahead of 2023 celebrations: When is Rosh Hashanah 2023? Berlin, Adele, ed. (2014). The Jewish study Bible: Jewish Publication Society Tanakh translation (2.ed.). New York: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-997846-5. For Rosh Hashanah, in particular, there's just a lot of emphasis on sweetness so that you are stepping into the year with good tastes and good feelings, and with this idea that you want to have a sweet and bountiful year ahead," Rabbi Danielle Leshaw, senior educator and campus support director for Hillel International, told USA TODAY. Rosh Hashanah greeting: Is it OK to say 'happy Rosh Hashanah'? Round challah: On Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) and other holidays, Jews eat loaves of the traditional braided bread known as challah. On the Jewish new year, the challah is often baked in a round shape to symbolize either the cyclical nature of life or the crown of God. Raisins are sometimes added to the dough for a sweet new year. Some Jews may also pray near a body of water in a Tashlich ceremony, in addition to tossing pieces of bread or other food into the water to symbolize sending off sins. What are some traditional Rosh Hashanah foods?Rosh Hashana changes dates each year because it’s based on the Hebrew calendar. In 2023, it begins at sundown on Friday, Sept. 15. Did you know? The ancient Jewish instrument known as the shofar, which is traditionally made from a ram's horn, has been used in classical and contemporary music, including composer Jerry Goldsmith's score for the 1979 film "Alien." Apples and honey: One of the most popular Rosh Hashanah customs involves eating apple slices dipped in honey, sometimes after saying a special prayer. Ancient Jews believed apples had healing properties, and honey signifies the hope that the new year will be sweet. Rosh Hashanah meals usually include an assortment of sweet treats for the same reason. If you love including personalized greetings, why not write your own poem or a unique song that encapsulates the event? Walk down memory lane by sharing a moment that happened in a past Rosh Hashanah festivity, or reveal what you’re looking forward to this year. The liturgy includes the recitation of a poem, the Unetaneh Tokef, part of which is meant to remind Jews that their lives might not last as long as they’d hope or expect,” DeSteno wrote. What do you eat on Rosh Hashana?

In the Jewish prayer-books (the Siddur and Machzor), Rosh Hashanah is also called Yom Hazikaron (the day of remembrance), [4] not to be confused with the modern Israeli remembrance day of the same name.In terms of the Gregorian calendar, the earliest date on which Rosh Hashanah can fall is 5 September, as happened in 1842, 1861, 1899, and 2013. The latest Gregorian date that Rosh Hashanah can occur is 5 October, as happened in 1815, 1929, and 1967, and will happen again in 2043. After 2089, the differences between the Hebrew calendar and the Gregorian calendar will result in Rosh Hashanah falling no earlier than 6 September. Starting in 2214, the new latest date will be 6 October. [68]

The special Avinu Malkeinu prayer is also recited on Rosh Hashanah. In the Ashkenazic rite, Avinu Malkeinu is never recited on Shabbat (except in Ne'ila on Yom Kippur), and it is also omitted at Mincha on Fridays. Used on Saturday nights (after Havdalah) and even on Sundays "shavua tov" is used to wish someone a good coming week. [2]The term Rosh Hashanah in its current meaning does not appear in the Torah. Leviticus 23:24 [5] refers to the festival of the first day of the seventh month as zikhron teru'ah ("a memorial of blowing [of horns]") Numbers 29:1 [6] calls the festival yom teru'ah ("day of blowing [the horn]").